Rick Mayer
Digital ProducerI’m the online producer for Health News Florida, a collaboration of public radio stations and NPR that delivers news about health care issues.
This is an important position at WUSF. In 2019, the typical U.S. family spent about 11 percent of its annual income on health care, so it stands to reason issues of cost, quality, access and innovation are consequential to all Floridians. Then COVID-19 came along, and the weight of these matters gained exponentially. I take our reporting on these topics quite seriously, as I’m sure you do, too.
Literally growing up in newsrooms and a little serendipity along the way prepared me well for the post. Here’s the abridged version: I’m a Tampa guy, graduating from H.B. Plant High and thrust into the world with my USF degree rolled tightly in hand. From there, it was three mostly sleepless decades as an editor at The Tampa Tribune, then developing and managing an online journal serving physician executives. There’s also my side job editing a statewide health magazine.
And being married to a longtime hospital nurse/case manager helps; dinner conversation often gives me a feel of what’s happening on the front lines. The good and not-so-good.
Of course, my time isn’t always spent flailing in the health news vortex. You’re actually more likely to find me breaking down the Bucs, Bulls or Bolts after a game, taking Oodle the poodle to the dog park or tinkering the backroom piano while vicariously reliving my former life as a musician. (Remember, kids: Parents of percussionists have plenty of patience. Plenty!)
Contact Rick on X @rmayer2361 or by email at Mayer1@wusf.org.
-
Amid concerns over fairness and access, all 50 states submitted applications with their priorities and potential innovations that CMS hopes will “right-size the health care system.” -
The College Football Playoff committee did not have a G5 team in its top 25, but said Memphis was first in line. Thanks to Memphis' loss Friday, that will almost certainly change when the committee's next rankings come out. -
USF was up 14-3 before its offense stepped on the field. Then QB Byrum Brown accounted for 348 total yards and three touchdowns as the Bulls kept their chances alive for a CFP bid. -
The World Baseball Classic puts a few twists on the Grapefruit and Cactus League slates. Tampa Bay opens Feb. 21 in Port Charlotte and makes only one trip to the Steinbrenner Field. -
While Naples was replaced by a Michigan town at No. 1, Florida still led the country with 53 of 250 locations worth of retirees' consideration. Changes in methodology shook up the rankings. -
If an impasse continues, Cleveland Clinic could be the third health system in Broward County to go out of network for Florida Blue members. But is the contract deadline in March or May? -
Johns Hopkins All Children’s, Nemours Children’s, Nicklaus Children’s and Wolfson Children’s are each receiving $7.5 million annually over five years as part of a collaborative program funded by the state. -
Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System, which operate a total of 11 hospitals, have launched 22 Health, which offers plans to county residents. -
Interim head coach Michele Woods-Baxter says her 17 years of winning on Jose Fernandez's staff prepared her for the moment he decided to move on two weeks ago. USF opens the season Monday against FIU. -
Bryan Hodgson overhauled the roster with 13 new players — including five who followed him from Arkansas State — into Monday's opener against Florida A&M at the Yuengling Center.
